THE INDIAN GOV MOT NT'S STRENUOUS STS.
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The Roughest of Country and Roads are Regarded as Neces! Motor Vehicle. How a est and Longest of Mountain rder to Try Out the Modern ry Answered the Tests.
The large central photograph shows a portion of the road from Jala Taloa to Matatma, whilst the one above it shows where the road terminates at the Afghan
THERE ARE no half-measures about the tests to which those motor vehicles are subjected which. are intended for the use of the defence forces of India. The Indian Government lays down with its specification a series of conditions to be observed by manufacturers which are•none too easy of compliance, but, on top of all these and of the trials to which various types are subjected in this country before they are approved, the vehicles on arriving-in India are submitted to tests the like of which are not possible in this country. Long climbs over mountain roads in blazing sunshine, the traversing of rough tracks across wild, sandy country, the passage of fords and dried water-courses, and the descent of steep roads and precipitous places are all involved, so that the vehicle which satisfactorily undergoes such strenuous trials may well be said to be fit for service anywhere in the wide world where the white man penetrates. The test which was the subject of the illustrations was, naturally, carried out under the strictest official supw.vision, and the results were neither made public nor intended for publication, but we are permitted to make use of the photographs and of certain information concerning the vehicle engaged on that occasion. Whilst favouring, for the particular purpose which they had in view, the 30-cwt. chassis, the Indian Government did not accept, in its entirety, the specification of the 30-cwt. subsidy model as laia down by the British War Office. Instead of the rear axle being worm driven as in the case.of the W.D. subsidy model, it is, in the case of the vehicle intended for use in India, bevel driven, with a ratio of 4.47 to one and fully floating. The axle and torque tubes are of drawn steel. The whole range of gear ratios is altered. We have given top-gear ratio : third speed is 8.43 to 1, second speed 14.66 to 1, first speed 24.34 to 1, and reverse 19.66 to 1 The ratios are in every case higher than those adopted on the subsidy moiel, where th.el top-gear ratio, for example, is 61 to 1.
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The W.D. subsidy model is equipped with .RudgeWhitworth wire wheels and giant pneumatic straight sided tyres 36 ins. by 6 ins. front and 38 ins. by 7 ins. rear. For India the equipment consists of N.A.P. disc wheels on both front and rear axles, the wheels being shod with 920 ram. D-section N.A.P. tyres.
During the course of the test, which was made in the Peshawar district, the Crossley was taken the full length of the Khyber Pass and to the Afghan frontier beyond Llandi Khans. trains of heavily laden camels and donkeys (many Of the loads being bulkier than the donkeys themselves !) having to be passed on the narrowroads cut on the hillside. One of our photooTanhs shows the Indo-Afghau frontier line with its notice-board forbidding the crossing of the border. The road up to the top of the Khyber Pass was found to be in a. very rough condition, having many pot7 holes and being strewn with loose stones. The scenery is grand and impressive, and the whole route covered by the test constitutes a most thorough trial.
As a result of the satisfactory behaviour of the vehicle orders fora number of wagons and tenders to be used in connection with a wireless service have been received from the Indian Government by Crossley Motors, Ltd.
The 30-cwt. Crossley is regarded as being capable of carrying 40 cwt. of load in addition to the weight of an ordinary type lorry body, and it has been designed for quick and reliable transport. It is strong enough for any kind of work, even roads that are thoroughly indifferent or bad being regarded as by no means unsuitable for it, as it has a 40-45 h.p. engine (the cylinder bore being 110 mm. and the piston stroke 140 mm.) with a five-bearing crankshaft. One of the distinctive features of the chassis is the lubrication of all moving parts by oil, spring-lidded oil lubricators being fitted throughout. The expanding rear brakes are faced in rather an unusual manner, cast-iron friction pieces in small sections being employed.